Dance with me!

All lifestyles, orientations, gender identities, dynamics, etc. welcome! Choose to lead, follow, or both. Learn the role you like, whatever your gender or orientation. Bring your dynamic into the activity if you want.

Trade partners, make dirty jokes, have a bit of friendly flirtation, touch others in a positive way! This is a great place to meet people and share an activity together. Bring your partner(s), just yourself, that date you want to impress, or someone else's partner. 😘

Be comfortable touching others and switching partners, as it's the best way to learn. Please communicate about touching, about whether or not you are comfortable. All I ask for is civility. Touch is how we communicate in dance; it's not intended to be sexual. It can, if done right, definitely be sexy, though!

Aquarius Ballroom Dance

Aquarius Ballroom is located inside Basics Fitness

380 Western Ave, South Portland

Studio Hours:

Monday 1pm-10pm
Wednesday 1pm-10pm
Saturday 9am-10pm

Aquarius Playground Ballroom: https://aquariusplayground.mailchimpsites.com/
Studio’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AquariusBallroomDance

Our Classes

Schedule

Mondays:

6PM: Vanilla Latin with Sergei (eg. Merengue, Salsa, Bachata)
7PM: Vanilla Ballroom with Sergei (eg. Waltz, Foxtrot, East Coast Swing)

Wednesdays:

7:30PM: Kinkster Ballroom and Rhythm Beginning Basics with Sarah
Last Wednesday of the month, 8:30PM: Kinkster Social Dance Party

Saturdays:
6PM: Kinkster/Swinger Ballroom with Sergei
7PM: Vanilla Ballroom & Latin Dance Basics with Sergei (Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Cha-Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing)
8-10PM: Vanilla Aquarius Dance Party (All rhythms)

Pricing

Sarah's semi-private/group beginners classes: $10/person
Kinkster/Swinger Social Dance: $5/person
Sergei's kinkster/swinger classes: $15/person
Private beginners with Sarah: $40/55 min., couple or single
Sergei’s vanilla group classes: $100 for 6 weeks, 1 hour per week (included in the price of any private/semi-private lesson) (2nd hour class/week at half price!)
Private lessons with Sergei: $100/hour, single, couple, small group
Vanilla Social Dances: Included with ANY lesson

Your Teachers

Sergei Slussky

Owner of Aquarius New Age Playground

Sergei has performed, competed, and taught ballroom dancing for over thirty years. He studied collegiate ballroom dancing at Brigham Young University and is part of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance and Dance Vision International Dance Association.

Sarah Croman

Junior Dance Teacher

As a lifelong dancer and sometimes junior teacher, Sarah is dedicated to making ballroom dance accessible to everyone and specializes in getting beginners on the dance floor. She coordinates classes celebrating diverse identities and alternative lifestyles.

Elizabeth Converse

Owner of Lavender Ballroom

While separate from Aquarius Ballroom, Elizabeth also provides diverse opportunities for members of the LGBTQ+ community to pursue ballroom dancing. Please connect to her through Ballroom with Elizabeth.

Common Questions

Are classes beginner friendly?

Absolutely! We teach beginning level (also called bronze level) ballroom, both smooth and rhythm, for a variety of dances. These are lessons; you don't need to know anything before you start.

Do I have to be a leader or follower based on my assigned gender?

Not at all. Part of the point of this class is to break down heteronormative requirements. Dance the role that suits you, for whatever reason. All I ask is that everyone remain polite and accepting of the choices others make.

What do I wear?!?

Wear clothes you can bend and move in. Street legal coverage is required at all times, but you can have a bit of kinky, sexy fun with your outfits. Traditionally, slacks and a button-up shirt or skirts/dresses would have been the norm. Good hygiene also helps, as we're in very close proximity to our fellow students.

Shoes are the most important part. No outdoor shoes (such as hiking boots) are allowed in the gym. The less grip on the bottom of your shoes, the better you will move. Suede-soled shoes are the ideal dancing shoe, but they are not required. Regular dress shoes (or anything with a smooth bottom) will serve just fine. A short heel sometimes helps, but only if you're already comfortable wearing them.

What makes these classes kinky? Is it okay if I'm not kinky or a swinger?

While kink is a large part of my life and how I interact in general, lessons are taught at a vanilla gym (though it's generally closed when we meet), in a sectioned off ballroom area. I am happy to discuss kink content, sexuality or identities, and how to integrate all of that into social dancing, but the nature of the venue will be respected. I’m focusing on bringing kink/dynamic/identity/sexuality concepts into social dancing in a way that it can be practiced in any environment. I want to make you comfortable being yourself and dancing anywhere you go, which means vanilla-friendly, too.

Are classes open to the public?
Yes, these classes are open to anyone who is aware of our community. I do not require any vetting processes, but I do request that everyone be vaccinated. You are welcome to bring guests over 18. Everyone who attends should know ahead of time that they are entering into an environment where adult concepts will be discussed.